Physiotherapy

What do PTs do at school?

We often take the ability to move and control our bodies for granted. School-based physiotherapy helps students move to the best of their ability, allowing them to obtain the highest level of independence at school. Fostering independence helps boost self-esteem and builds skills for the rest of their lives.

Our Physiotherapists work with school-aged children who have movement challenges that affect success in:

• Classroom activities

• Getting around the classroom and school

• Recess Play

• Physical Education

Physiotherapists work with students in a variety of ways:

• Combine movement goals with school routines and academic programming

• Work on specific skills 

• Modify and adapt activities to allow the child/youth to participate

• Group work (e.g., movement/brain breaks)

• Collaborate with other team members

• Train learning teams to support a child physically in the school (ie. stair safety, lifting, stretches)

Some examples of when to make a referral to a Physiotherapist may include:

• If a student has difficulty playing with others at recess or using playground equipment

• If a student has difficulty doing the same things as peers in Physical Education

• If a student has difficulty moving around the school